Top News

U.S. Senate Rejects Gun-Control Legislation

April 17, 2013
|

Photo via ATF.

A federal gun-control law that would have expanded background checks to cover gun shows and online purchases failed to pass in the U.S. Senate today.

Senators voted 54-46 on the Manchin-Toomey amendment named in favor of its chief architects. The amendment needed 60 votes to move ahead. Four Republicans supported it, and four Democrats voted no, reports the Washington Post.

Also defeated was Sen. Dianne Feinstein's amendment to institute a new assault weapons ban and limit on magazine capacity. The Senate also rejected the Grassley amendment that would have required inclusion of criminal and adjudicated mental health records in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NCIS). The Grassley amendment was supported by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).

The NSSF, which puts on the SHOT Show each January, promised to continue support the Grassley amendment to "provide law enforcement with additional tools they need to arrest and prosecute illegal firearms traffickers and straw purchasers."

Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Patrick Toomey (R-Pa.) announced the deal April 10 as victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting headed to Washington, D.C. to voice support for gun-violence measures.

The National Rifle Association voiced strong opposition to the legislation and Vice President Joe Biden skipped former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's memorial service to lobby his colleagues.

President Obama said the gun lobby and its allies "willfully lied" about the bill, reports the Associated Press.

Recommended Stories

Comments (24)

Displaying 1 - 24 of 24

gunner @ 4/17/2013 5:57 PM

Honest Americans will not be categorized for having or passing on to a son or daughter an heirloom or weapon of protection for themselves or family. Good guy will still be able to protect themselves, Sorry bad guys, you lost this one. God Bless those that voted to keep the honest American Safe.God Bless the Troops and all in L.E. that keep America Safe, you are heros everyday when you put on the uniform, although sometimes it seems like a thankless job this Nation appreciates what you do everyday. Well the honest ones anyway.Semper Fi and Stay Safe.A special thanks to the families of our finest.

Leonard Mather @ 4/17/2013 5:58 PM

When Obama states that the gun lobby "willfully lied" about the bill, he is spinning the facts by avoiding accurate data presented by NRA while de-bunking Obama's cherry picked data from isolated sub-set samples that Obama wants to quote as being representative when they are not representative of the whole. The NRA is quite thorough and appeals to cognitive thinking; Obama and Biden resort to emotional appeal. Notice Biden's sour expression now on the Internet as Obama deplores the recent results on Manchin-Toomey amendment. Study Bidens expression and notice its profound resemblance to Jeff Dunham's "Sour Old Man" puppet.

Mike @ 4/17/2013 6:12 PM

The Obama administration, and their servants in the Lame Stream Media, are constantly making statements about how they are being thwarted by the "Powerful NRA". They have completely ignored the fact that the NRA is made up entirely of We The People. The American People have defeated these Unconstitutional laws by using the tools put in place by The founding Fathers to keep our nation from being taken over by a dictatorial regime.OUR voices in Congress!!

Tom Ret @ 4/17/2013 6:18 PM

Both sides of the aisle know that the proposed new gun control would not have saved the slaughtered children at Sandy Hook. Obama states that the gun lobby willfully lied about this legislation while suggesting he has the American people's best interests at heart. Unfortunately for him, Benghazi and its coverup is still fresh in people's memories.

Jim A @ 4/17/2013 6:25 PM

I have nothing against crime control. We practice it every day. It has nothing to do with GUN CONTROL, desired by emotional, gun-grabbing, 1st amendment loving - 2nd amendment hating, truth misrepresenting leftists. Did everyone understand what I said, or was it too soft?

Mandatory sentencing of those involved in gun violence might help. Stiff sentencing for violent crimes might help. But the courts are not doing that. Citizens need to stand up for that. Limiting magazine sizes does absolutely nothing other than to make those on the far left satisfied they have taken the rights away from another citizen. Seems a little odd to me. Liberalism is killing America a little at a time.

JJ @ 4/17/2013 6:29 PM

Congrats to those Senators that still possess some common sense but the fight is far from over. Unfortunately things are not going as well here in the People's Republic of California and with the Democrats having a super majority in both houses semi-automatics may be a thing of the past. Were it not for the wife, I'd be moving to Arizona.

Rob @ 4/16/2013 6:57 PM

I wish the Obama/Biden camp and their groupies were as passionate about a strong economy and national security as they've been over useless gun control legislation.

Mark @ 4/17/2013 7:32 PM

Here is a novel idea, how about punishing criminals who are violent more harshly. Quit trying to make new criminals out good law abiding people. I get tired of prosecutors and judges giving weak sentences. Even then, prison isn't all that harsh either.

gunner @ 4/17/2013 7:36 PM

Just for the record, but anonymous for good reason:How many here have faith in Janet Napolitano as Homeland Security Czar and Eric Holder as Attorney General?This is not scientific being it only from front line troops that keep the streets safe. No Criminals votes will be counted.That was item 1,Item 2:When the Country, Cities and Counties over spend on feel good issues that result in laying off Law Enforcement and Firefighters what should we tell the powers in office? And YES that is a skewed question that only those that serve will understand.Stay Safe, Be Prepared for Anything and go home to your loving families, your own and the ones you protect.As always, Semper Fi and God Bless for what you do.

S. Thomas @ 4/17/2013 9:18 PM

The Obama administration, and their servants in the Media have been lying this entire time saying that 90% of Americans support expanding gun control, and banning weapons.80% of law enforcement nation wide are against this, and favor eliminating gun free killing zones, because like me they are tired of getting there just in time to clean up the victims bodies.I personally am tired of the lies, and tiered of a tyrannical government that has forgotten that they were hired as public servants, while trying to force me to work as their thug, and I have no voice in the issue.

Bob @ VA @ 4/18/2013 4:58 AM

A victory for the good guys! Liberty lives to fight another day.

Obama's lies have been thick and maloderous during the entire debate. The gun-grabbers' dancing in the blood of the innocents turns my stomach. It's morally repugnant to use the families of the victims as props in a political push - especially to the point of hiring publicists for them. There is truly no shame in the White House.

If Obama and company really want to reduce violent crime, then they should reopen Alcatraz and fill it with gang bangers and other violent predators, and streamline the death penalty process. What good does it do to risk life and limb to arrest these predators only to have them back on the street in a heartbeat? Gang bangers would be hard to come by if they knew that pulling the trigger meant getting the chair or a needle.

Maybe now the country can get serious about fixing the mental health system and harshly punishing violent predators.

MIKE @ 4/18/2013 5:49 AM

Everyone like's to bash President Obama, we'll at least he's try to do something unlike to a'hole republicans, their a disgrace.Screw the republicans "and also some democrats next election"Who are the representing? No one except the one's who provide them the panties they wear!!! they sure don't represent the people that demanded changes. These idiots probably can't even agree on what time of the day it is. Other countrys must be having a good laugh about our elected fools.......... We sure as hell are good at dropping bombs and fighting wars in other contries, but we can't seem to take care of our problems here.

Arby @ 4/18/2013 7:08 AM

Mike, so glad to see a liberal finally posted something on here and I'm really glad it was you. Of all the posts so far, yours went over the top with spelling and grammar errors. I know, its the opinion that counts the most but really, as important as you think your opinion is, try harder to put it out there in the best light possible so it could at least be considered on level ground with the other opinions expressed here. If presented well, someone honestly considering your opinion might at least take it more seriously, even if they never agree with it. I disagree with your opinion, but agree with your right to express it. That statement right there brands me as a conservative. Oh well, it is what it is.

Bigdeeld @ 4/17/2013 8:06 AM

Well put Arby

Tom Ret @ 4/18/2013 8:51 AM

People would not be bashing Obama, as Mike puts it, if he was competent. With Fast N Furious and Benghazi incidents as examples, Obama's truthfulness and competence are called into question. Obama's green agenda, Obamacare and spending that is putting our national debt into the stratosphere, will have consequences. Most street officers believe what Obama is trying to force down our throats involving gun control, will not make any difference in reducing crime.

gunner @ 4/18/2013 12:19 PM

Bloomberg shill, Mike, MikeLA or whatever you go by we know who you are! You are paid by the Bloomberg folks to cause problems on Police and Second Amendment Sites. You are a paid fool. So to you I say "It is better to remain silent and be thought an idiot and coward than to write in honest discussions and remove all doubt"! Folks, just another paid idiot from Bloomberg, Pelosi, Feinstein and lap dog for Harry Reed.Please go back to the sandbox you came from.

Jaj @ 4/18/2013 12:24 PM

The only reason not to have background checks for all is if you have something to hide! If you're an honest, good person what do you care if they do a background check! I hope all against the bill feel like real bad asses having your guns to protect you!

gunner @ 4/18/2013 12:35 PM

Jaj-Please read statement above and please pass on to all the other shills of your intelligence, ie: can't find a real job so get paid by Bloomberg to prove you couldn't carry on a intelligent conversation with a post hole.

Arby @ 4/18/2013 2:30 PM

Honestly, I my own opinion, I don't think the most folks have any issues with "background checks." What they have issues with is first and foremost, "background checks" as they are trying to pass them will be kept as permanent records which is a back-door way of mandatory registration. Most folks DO have a problem with that. If the background checks worked like they do when an officer checks you on a traffic stop - you either have a record or you don't - either way, there is no retrievable record (by your name) to show that you were even checked. The other huge objection is a combination of exactly what information is put in the database (criminal record like what appears in NCIC?) and what RELEVANT mental health information would be put in there? Our mental health system is broken. Not even thinking about guns, it needs to be fixed to help society and to help the mentally ill. Once it's fixed, decide some rational, common-sense approach as to what data will be entered, i.e. what type of mental/psychological issues should even be considered when deciding who should be able to buy a firearm. Come up with background answers to these and some other issues, THEN think about expanding background checks that actually make some common sense. The last major issue is, no matter how sensible a background check system we come up with, the criminals will still steal or buy on the black-market whatever firearm they want to buy. For them, you tack on mandatory, harsh penalties that last a long time. That may deter a few but it will more likely cut down recidivism for those prone to use firearms. There's much more to be said about that and other aspects of this problem, but these knee-jerk useless actions are a waste of time and take away from bigger issues they should actually be working on, (economy anyone?). If our nation/civilization crumbles, you can forget about gun control anyway.

gunner @ 4/18/2013 3:34 PM

Folks, this is suppose to be a discussion from those in L.E. Now folks like Mike, Jaj ,Arby and on another discussion board here a MikefromLA or a moniker like that. These trolls are nothing less than folks from Bloomberg shills, sent here to disrupt intelligent conversation from adults. I hope with the abilities via internet can pinpoint these folks. I would guess with my knowledge of what is going on in America would say they wear their hat backwards, carry a backpacks and vote liberal. Probably are anarchists, vote democrat and live in California. Probably come from a broken home where neither father nor mother accept them as legitimate from their loins. A watchful eye should be placed on these two, or maybe one acting as two. Bloomberg trolls scraping the bottom of the cesspool hoping to be heard.Thank God For L.E., Fire/Rescue and the best damn Fighting Force in the World.Semper Fi and God Bless to most writing here.

Capt.Crunch @ 4/18/2013 3:39 PM

You said it it right Rob, this is all BS on gun control. The republicans and democrats, want us to not think about the economy and national security because they don't have what it takes to correct these problems.

Just so everyone knows. I'm NOT the ass hat going by "Mike" who made the "Attack the Republicans" post. I was hoping that this forum had a "Link name to e-mail" blocker in their software but apparently they don't. Guess I'll have to pick another on line name. I sure as Hell don't want to be confused with that dufus.

Arby @ 4/19/2013 5:39 AM

Just for the record, gunner - I don't drink at all, (I obviously don't need alcohol to ramble when I write...), and I am a current LEO for going on 40 years now. I don't think I'm actually a "flaming" conservative, but I do feel I am conservative to the core. Semper Fi yourself and thanks for your service too.

Loading...

Join the Discussion

POLICE Magazine does not tolerate comments that include profanity, personal attacks or antisocial behavior (such as "spamming" or "trolling"). This and other inappropriate content or material will be removed. We reserve the right to block any user who violates this, including removing all content posted by that user.

The NYPD’s newest officers are hitting the streets with the latest generation of Glock...

Yes! Please rush me my FREE TRIAL ISSUE of POLICE magazine and FREE Officer Survival Guide with tips and tactics to help me safely get out of 10 different situations.

Just fill in the form to the right and click the button to receive your FREE Trial Issue.

If POLICE does not satisfy you, just write "cancel" on the invoice and send it back. You'll pay nothing, and the FREE issue is yours to keep. If you enjoy POLICE, pay only $25 for a full one-year subscription (12 issues in all). Enjoy a savings of nearly 60% off the cover price!